MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

Titan Q - Since your 401K took a nice rebound on your home dog play on the Mac v. Elmhurst game, just wondered if you had an early early line on the Elmhurst @ Fontbonne game. For entertainment purposes only, of course.

Elmhurst -14

[dansand]

TQ--

I seem to remember a great deal of green tinted hype from an unnamed champion IWU promoter ( ) at the beginning of last season with regard to how good IWU's frosh guard tandem was going to be, and how they both likely projected as future CCIW 1st team all conference members. Accordingly, my reference to the EC guards having to wait to have that honor bestowed upon them until Rosenkranz & Johnson graduate was just a gentle reminder to said shameless promoter of his own projection regarding the Wesleyan guards and the observation that until they (and I think Steve D must be included) graduate, the top all conference guard spots would assuredly be locked up. Therefore McCurdy & Boyd will have to wait their turn as they will have no chance for 1st team honors until their senior year.      

...and remember, the CCIW doesn't choose it's all-conference by position, so, technically, there's room for five first team all-conference guards.

[Dennis_Prikkel]

Not really a salvo or any intent to go to war. I think TQ himself recognizes there is no more prolific promoter of his team than himself--with just cause in many instances. Accordingly, just, as I said, a gentle reminder of his prognostications relative to the future achievements of last season's starting guards for the Titans whose introductory bios, like that of almost every new IWU player Bob introduces us to, contained the seemingly mandatory phrase "a future all conference player."   

Aw, don't ruin my happy vision of seeing some snark fly around in this room for the next 24 hours or so. We're generally a polite bunch, but a little edginess is perfectly OK every now and then just to keep things lively. You were off to such a nice start there by busting Bob's chops about his IWU propagandizing ... but then you had to go and make with the politeness and everything.

I mean, I suppose that Dennis Prikkel and I could snipe at each other for old time's sake, but the rest of you would get all "been there, done that" on us.

It's not easy being green,
unless your glasses are tinted blue and gold
then everything that happens to unfold
will be wonderfully forseen.

Now that winter is upon us,
rummies forsake their urban closets
on this board to lay their deposits
of bragadoccio and fuss.

it all still smells the same....

dgp

the curmudgeon in waiting....

[markerickson]

but the green propaganda machine had to quote itself in bulk form

[Dennis_Prikkel]

but the green propaganda machine had to quote itself in bulk form

".... learned from the master."

Matt Douglas

[augie77]

Nice article on Augustana Coach Grey Giovanine:

http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2008/11/16/sports/college/doc491f452675f3e8122:

Hopefully I'm doing this right, but if not, just go to www.qctimes.com and search for giovanine.  He walked away from the big time to get back home to Illinois and make family his priority.

[dansand]

Thanks Augie 77,

I think this link will work:

http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2008/11/15/sports/college/doc491f452675f3e812236682.txt

[cardinalfanrochelle]

AndOne,
             I talked to someone from his hometown and was told Marcus Peters is now attending NIU as a student not a player.

[AndOne]

I re-read recruiting-related posts for the last two years, and I've only referenced future all-conference potential in two...

Ron Rose received what I believe is an extremely significant recruiting commitment this week.  Jordan Zimmer, a 6-4 G/F from Delavan H.S., said he will attend Illinois Wesleyan and play basketball for the Titans.  Zimmer is an outstanding student (4.0 GPA, high school valedictorian) and a terrific basketball player.

Some statistical information on Zimmer from the IHSS Class 1A all-state team:

Jordan Zimmer (Sr.), Delavan - 28-4 (school record); Senior season stats: 736 pts. / 23.0 ppg; 3 pt made: 123 (top 10 on IHSA all-time list); 3 pt%: 123-293/42.0%; 2pt%: 121-211/57.4%; FT%: 125-137 / 91.3%; Rbs: 132 rbs/4.1 rpg; Asst: 99 ast/3.1 apg; Steals: 54 stl/1.7 spg; Career high 44 points (including 22 in 4th qtr.) in sectional semi-final vs. Putnam County; Totaled 2043 career points; 347 career 3-pt made (Top 5 on IHSA all-time list); 86.5% career FT %Started 121 out of 122 varsity games in career (2 regional titles); College interest from D-1 St. Louis, D-III Augustana, Illinois Wesleyan, Elmhurst.

I saw Zimmer play three times this year, including his 44-point effort vs Putnam County in his final H.S. game.  I believe he is going to be a very good CCIW wing player – he compares very favorably to 6-4 Elmhurst small forward Ryan Burks (another central Illinois small school product) and I believe his ceiling is the same (1st/2nd Team All-CCIW potential).  Zimmer will have to get bigger and stronger as Burks has – Jordan is very thin right now.  There will also be a learning curve as he transitions from a small high school to the CCIW.

Zimmer received pretty significant interest from St. Louis University.  Rick Majerus came to Delavan to watch him practice and then had him on campus.  Fortunately for Illinois Wesleyan, SLU did not offer.  (They offered and signed G/F Kyle Cassity of Pinckneyville.)  Zimmer was pursued very aggressively by the three CCIW schools that he made his choice between.

-----

I can't confirm this, but heard this morning that Tremont all-state guard Jeremy Pflederer did in fact select Wheaton.  He was pursued by several small colleges, including Augustana, Olivet Nazarene, and IWU.

Pflederer's name can be found on the small school all-state teams I posted yesterday for Jordan Zimmer...

IBCA Class 1A/2A all-state team

IHSS Class 1A all-state team

AP Class 1A/2A all-state teams

And here is Jan. 18 feature from WMBD TV...

http://centralillinoisproud.com/content/fulltext/?cid=5937


6-1 Pflederer is what you call a "combo guard", but I think he'll primarily play point-guard in college.  He is also a track star at Tremont and is just lightning fast with the basketball in his hands. 

He should be an All-CCIW player in time.  As I posted back in February, just seems like a great kid...and a terrific student (33 ACT).  Good recruit for Wheaton.  With Jahns, Plfederer, and a couple of those kids from Wheaton North I believe they're getting, the Thunder will be very good at guard...as usual.

Again, I can't confirm this, but I believe it is accurate.

Sorry to make you have to work so hard TQ.
Perhaps due to the voluminous  presence of the various forms of praise you provided us with, it was the implication of all conference status I was left with rather than the absolute reality of the statement. 

[AndOne]

AndOne,
             I talked to someone from his hometown and was told Marcus Peters is now attending NIU as a student not a player.

I can understand that. Last year when he went to Benedictine, his girlfriend came to North Central and was a member of the Cardinal volleyball team. She then transferred to NIU at the semester. This year Marcus evidently joined her at the beginnning of the school year.

Ahhh---love conquers all!      

[Titan Q]

Recruiting News------

With the completion of all necessary paperwork and official enrollment, North Central has announced the transfer of 6'7"  Cameron Sweatman from DI Bradley University.

Cameron played his high school ball at Calvary Academy in Springfield, IL where he averaged 10.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg. In his senior season, he had 61 blocks. After his senior campaign at Calvary, Cameron enrolled at Lake Forest Academy for a 5th prep season in 06-07. While at LFA, he averaged 10 ppg. He then accepted Bradley's offer to walk-on last season during which he red-shirted and practiced with the team, but, of course, did not play. Accordingly, he still has 4 years of eligibility remaining.
He will provide some inside scoring help while being a force on the defensive end, particularly on the boards.

Cameron is the nephew of Todd Sweatman, assistant hoops coach at Illinois College of the MWC.

http://www.yardbarker.com/media/media/6840
Floating from the free-throw line...

AndOne, here is a post I came across while trying to defend myself from your brutal attacks.

I don't see Sweatman on the 2008-09 NCC roster...is he hurt?

http://www.northcentralcollege.edu/x32088.xml

[Titan Q]

Sorry to make you have to work so hard TQ.
Perhaps due to the voluminous  presence of the various forms of praise you provided us with, it was the implication of all conference status I was left with rather than the absolute reality of the statement. 

Understood.

I guess, then, you are implying that Mr. Adams will be an All-American?  There is some volume here too, my friend.

Nice diversionary chats re baseball, soccer, and hockey.

Now back to basketball, and some RECRUITING NEWS.

North Central has pulled off a nice coup, and is announcing they have received a commitment from 6'3" guard Mark Adams of Aurora Central Catholic HS. While at ACC, Mark was All Suburban Catholic Conference in 06-07, and was the Conference POY this past season.

Among his accomplishments:

*Scored over 1600 points.
*All tourney team at both the 06 and 07 Sandwich T'Giving Tourneys.
*All tourney at Waubonsie Valley X-Mas Tourney in 06, and WV Tourney MVP in 07.
*Aurora Beacon News area player of the year for 07-08.
*Kane County Chronicle player of the year for 07-08.
*Averaged 19.1 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg, 2 steals, and 2 blocks last season.
*Shot 59 percent on 2 pointers, 38 percent on threes, and 79 percent on FTs
*Scored 34 points on a dazzling combination of inside and outside moves against eventual state champion Marshall in a sectional semifinal loss in his final game.

Mark was widely considered to have some D1 skills, but was overlooked, most likely due to his (lack of) height. He was one of the primary targets of the North Central recruiting efforts this year.
The following article appeared today in the Kane County Chronicle. Please note I deleted the end of the article which for some reason talked about the Batavia HS alumni baseball game.

Prep Zone: D-I schools were foolish to pass on Adams


If Mark Adams had his way, he might have never pulled the trigger on a college.

Finally, his father intervened, giving Adams the nudge he needed last weekend to commit to play basketball at North Central College.

The decision came none too early – by the time June turns to July, most college students-to-be are picking out furniture for their dorm rooms, not their actual schools.

"I still think in his mind he wasn't ready to commit anywhere ... It was just enough's enough," his father, also named Mark, said. "This went on long enough."

Adams' reluctance to decide was understandable. He badly wanted to play Division I basketball, and has the ability to do so.

The offers never came, and it's a shame. Some D-I schools missed the boat on the Aurora Central Catholic star, plain and simple.

The Chronicle Player of the Year fashioned a superb senior season, averaging 19.1 points and 5.2 rebounds a game in leading the Chargers to conference and regional championships. His final impression was a breathtaking 34-point outburst against eventual state champion Marshall in a surprisingly close-fought sectional semifinal.

"I thought for sure when we played Marshall and he scored 34 points and [Marshall] went on to win state, it would open some doors, but it just didn't happen," his father said.

Instead, more recruiting frustration followed, culminating in aip to Western Illinois in which miscommunication resulted in no basketball coaches around to greet the Adams after their 210-mile trek. It's a shame for the downtrodden Leathernecks, a perfect example of the level of Division I program foolish not to find a place for Adams.

There are several theories on why Adams was overlooked by the big boys. ACC plays in a low-profile hoops conference. Adams did not play AAU basketball, electing instead to spend his high school days as a three-sport standout for the Chargers. Chargers coach Nate Drye thinks his size – Adams was listed at 6-3, but is probably closer to 6-2 – was the biggest obstacle to a D-I scholarship.

"I think it was the height thing," Drye said. "People couldn't get past the mental block on that."

Despite the D-I snubs, Adams has lots to look forward to at North Central, where he can play a competitive brand of Division III basketball near family and friends. Adams, a physical guard with a versatile offensive game, is talented enough to make a major impact at the Naperville school.

The chance to show a few other coaches they miscalculated should only help his cause.

"I think he's got kind of an ax to grind, and I think it's going to work out in his favor," his father said.

[devildog29]

What else are they going to say? We're starting 2 rummies at guard this year?" Hardly.
Of course BOTH can't be 1st team all conference until Rosenkranz and Johnson are done filling the spots. TWO 1st team guards from the same school. Wow! When is the last time that happened?

AO, perhaps you are confusing Q with our #1 B-town cheerleader Ypsi?  Q certainly posts some very detailed analysis of the Titans, but then again he probably does as much if not more research than most on this board and has access (or did before the big move) to more information.  Even so, he is always fair to all teams in the conference and D3 for that matter which I'm guessing is why he's part of the AA selection committee. 

And as much as we love Chuck in Titan Nation, I think he might be the first to admit that as long as we can find 5 living, breathing bodies on campus to field a team, he thinks we have a shot at the Final Four.   

[Naperick]

Thanks Augie 77,

I think this link will work:

http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2008/11/15/sports/college/doc491f452675f3e812236682.txt

Great article!  Thanks for the link.  Grey is an outstanding coach!

[Naperick]

Why is Elmhurst hosting Aurora Univeristy tonight and playing at Simpson tomorrow?  The 'Jays will have played 3 games before North Central has their Tip-Off Classic tournament this weekend.  Seems like a lot of games early for EC.